Karuizawa is known as a getaway magnet for the rich, and based on a recent trip to the town in Nagano Prefecture, Japan's wealthy take their pleasures very seriously.

From the concrete vistas of the capital, just over an hour by train north of Tokyo in this former playground of Japan's royalty, you'll find sumptuous houses set in dense forest, and high-end restaurants which, despite their prices, help make this town well worth a visit.

Karuizawa also has at least eight easily accessible golf courses nearby and tennis courts beckoning those yearning something active. In winter, there are curling facilities, and a nearby ski slope is open between mid-October and early spring — with artificial snow guaranteed if the real stuff doesn't appear on cue. In summer, meanwhile, the cool upland climate gives those who can afford holiday homes a welcome break from sticky Tokyo. But you don't have to be rich to enjoy Karuizawa's year-round crisp air, natural splendors and peaceful atmosphere.